State Senate scandals inspire new wave of ethics bills

The criminal scandals in the state Senate this year have resulted in a surge in proposals by lawmakers who want to restore integrity and the public's trust in the Legislature.

Multiple Democratic and Republican proposals are being floated, including bills that would double criminal sentences for lawmakers convicted of bribery, prevent candidates from using campaign funds for their criminal defense and create fundraising blackout periods.

The myriad bills come on the heels of unrelated criminal cases against three senators: Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, is fighting charges levied in March that he conspired to traffic in firearms and traded favors in Sacramento for bribes; Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello (Los Angeles County), was charged in February with bribery and corruption in an FBI sting; and Sen. Roderick Wright, D-Inglewood (Los Angeles County), was convicted in January of eight counts of perjury and voter fraud for lying about living in his district.

All three Democrats were suspended with pay in March.

Scandals are typically followed by political reform efforts, said Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor who specializes in governmental ethics.

"If you want to pass something dealing with ethics, this is the moment," she said. "We have to be sure when we are passing these laws, it's real reform and not window dressing reform or PR reform."

On Wednesday, Senate Republicans proposed a set of reforms that includes the tougher sentences for bribery and restricts campaign funds from being used for criminal defense.

Yee has been using his campaign account for his abandoned secretary of state bid to pay for his legal defense, including a recent $50,000 payment to the San Francisco law firm Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney.

"We're acting decisively in order to begin restoring the public's trust," said Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff of Diamond Bar. "These are simple reforms and we call on Democrats to join us."

Senate Democrats, meanwhile, have proposed myriad new rules, including appointing a Senate ombudsman to investigate misconduct and banning fundraising activities during the end of the legislative session, when critical votes are cast.On Tuesday, the Senate passed a proposal for a constitutional amendment that would allow the Legislature to suspend a lawmaker without pay.